A/N: Okay so basically, I'm sure you're all horribly disappointed that this is not the next chapter of "Bend and Not Break" and I do apologize…but I've had this written and haven't had time to write chpt 17 and I always planned on posting this for the summer sooooo…Don't hate me? : ) I'm actually really excited about this story, but it's very different from anything I've ever done before. The main characters will obviously be an integral part of everything but since I feel as though they get their moment in the spotlight in my other stories there's also a few original characters (some of which may have appeared in another story of mine…hint, hint) that are central to the goings on. This whole concept is meant to be three parts and the plan is (for now at least) for all of it to take place in one day in a more 24-type format. If people are interested I'll definitely be posting the other parts that follow this…
Like I said, I'm really, really excited about this story and also really nervous about posting it (it's been a work in progress for ages…) so I'd love to get some feedback and hope you all are willing to oblige and ease my mind. : )
Thanks in advance.
Bookworm.
P.S. The first chapter is basically a setup for everything to come (ie: so we see where all our beloved characters are at this point in time.) It's accurate up to the first few episodes of season 5 (bear with me) and by chapter 2 we'll be seeing a lot more of the main 24 characters.
Disenchanted
PROLOGUE
Age 8
"Aly…" the little girl tugged on the blankets. "Aly, are you awake?"
Her sister groaned and stirred.
"What's wrong?" she startled slightly when she heard the commotion from downstairs. Her whole body tensed.
The little sister tightened her grip the stuffed dog she clutched in her free fist and buried her face in it.
"Daddy's mad again." She whispered the words, as though that would make it less true. The older sister went white and sat upright in bed. She slowly lowered her feet to the floor.
"Where are you going?!"
"I just want to see what's happening…" she scuffled across the wood paneling, her pajama pants a few inches too long for her.
"Aly, don't!"
"I'll be right back…"
Aly pushed her straggly blonde curls out of her eyes and proceeded into the hallway. She took her time moving towards the stairs, the sounds getting louder as she did. Her mom was crying.
"Damnit Diana!" her dad roared venomously. "I told you to tell your mother we couldn't make dinner this weekend. Look at your face? You want your entire family to see what a wreck you are?"
She continued to cry and Aly perched herself on the top of the stairs, her fingers wrapped white-knuckle around the railing and her eyes wide with horror.
"Bill's only available once every few months…I want to see my - "
The sound of his hand against her cheek made Aly start. She heard her mom crying harder and moved further down the stairs.
"Aly, stop!" her sister called after her, but she ignored her and continued into the kitchen.
"What's happening?" Aly asked boldly. She told herself not to seem afraid but when she was finally confronted with the scene in front of her she felt shaky. Her mom was cornered up against the fridge, a hand covering one side of her face and her dad stood breathing heavily a few feet away from her. Both turned to look at their daughter when she entered the room.
"Go to bed, Aly." Her dad stated flatly.
"Dad, what are you - ?"
"I said go back upstairs!" he roared.
"But dad, what's wrong with - "
"Get back upstairs - !"
"Ben, she's just scared…"
"Shut up!"
Aly remained rooted to the ground.
"Aly, go check on Claire. I heard her moving around earlier. Mommy and I were just having an argument. It'll be okay tomorrow."
"But I wanna see Uncle Bill on Saturday…" Aly exclaimed, not wanting to leave the kitchen yet. "Can't we go? He always brings us presents…"
"You're already spoiled, all of you. Now are you going to go back to bed or will I have to carry you up there myself?"
The look in his eyes told Aly she did not want to make him carry her upstairs himself. She turned and left.
"Is mommy okay?" Claire asked when she saw her sister was unharmed after the confrontation.
Aly nodded wordlessly and Claire started to cry as the door closed behind them.
"I can't sleep when daddy…"
"You can sleep with me." Aly offered and allowed her sister to crawl into the bed first before pulling the covers over both of them.
Age 12
"Why's dad home?" Nine-year-old Claire inquired as the girls stepped off the school bus and onto the curb beside their house. She received no answer, except for her sister's retreating back as she hurried up the driveway and towards the front door.
"We're home!" she called loudly as Claire shut the door behind her.
No one said anything.
"Mom!" she dropped her backpack and hurried anxiously through the hallway and into the living room. Her mom was sitting on the couch with a small icepack held at one side of her neck.
"Oh good, you're home." Her mom smiled. "We were thinking of going out for dinner tonight. Anywhere you girls feel like going?"
"Why's dad home?" she asked nervously.
"Oh…he left early today. Thought we could spend some quality family time…" her mother laughed like it was a nice, little surprise. "I'll never understand these moods he gets into."
Her daughter's eyes narrowed. "What happened to your neck?"
"I think I pinched a nerve…I was sitting at the computer all afternoon. Uncle Bill e-mailed me. He's in Washington this week. He also said not to tell Claire…" she winked. "But I think he has something special for you next time we see him."
"So you hurt your neck sitting at the computer for a couple of hours?"
"I probably slept on it weird or something…I'm sure it'll be fine tomorrow."
"Can I see?" she inquired.
"Are you a doctor now?" her mother responded intuitively.
"Why does dad do this?" she felt the tears well in her eyes and she collapsed on the couch beside her mother. "How come he does this to you?"
"Honey, daddy went through a lot when he went away before. You know he loves us and we just need to give him some time."
"Six years isn't long enough?" she snapped sarcastically.
"Don't get smart with me, Alex. When you get married you'll realize there are choices you have to make. I choose to support my husband because I love him."
"He's hurting you!" she exclaimed incredulously. "If he loves you, why is he hurting you?"
"You're not old enough to understand, honey…"
At that moment Claire and her dad walked in.
"Dad said he'd take us all out tonight if we want." Claire stated happily. "Can we go to that pizza place, Aly? Pleaseeeeeeeee…"
Alex rose calmly and gulped hard, before she approached them and stared directly at her father.
"I have a project to do tonight." She stated, her voice wavering. "You guys go without me."
Age 16
"Do you think your parents will let you sleepover tomorrow?"
Alex hesitated. "I don't know yet…"
"Well ask! I need you to tell me what Chris said about me…you've got all the dirt!" Kathryn exclaimed indignantly. "They can get by without you for one night."
Alex laughed. "I don't have all the dirt…"
"He must've said something when you guys played hockey…damnit I really need to learn how to play hockey! Maybe you can teach me that tomorrow too!"
Kathryn giggled and Alex followed suit.
"I'll see what I can do, alright?"
"Besides…my parents are gone all weekend and my brother said if we wanted he'd take us to that party Maxine's throwing…Maybe Brandon will put the moves on you again…" she grinned wickedly and Alex groaned.
"I was drunk. He's an ass."
"Yeah well, you realize no one's ever gonna touch you if you keep hanging out with the entire football team…That's just slightly intimidating to every other guy in school…"
"I don't want a boyfriend." She stated crisply as they rounded the corner to her house.
"Courtney was asking me why I hung out with you because you're so stuck up…Because the fact that you turned down a senior makes you a horrible person." Kathryn rolled her eyes. "She's a bitch…I just thought you should know what she's saying…"
"Whatever…anyway, look I'd better get inside."
When Alex stepped inside the house she immediately knew something was wrong. You could've heard a pin drop as she proceeded with great caution into the kitchen, the only light that was on in the house.
The scene before her forced the bile up to the back of her throat and she clenched her fists unknowingly."
"What are you doing!" she exclaimed. Her mom was huddled in a corner, knees pulled up to her chest and Claire had buried her face in her hands. There was blood. Lots of blood.
"Dad!" she exclaimed as he turned to stare at her.
"Take Claire outside." He stated calmly. She hated that he could be so calm. That his wife was bleeding on the floor because of him and he wasn't even quavering.
Claire rose robotically from her position on the floor and went to stand beside her sister. She was trembling.
Alex didn't move.
"Alex, take your sister outside now!"
She gulped hard, finding her voice.
"No." she stated firmly. Claire's eyes widened.
"Aly…" she touched her arm, but Alex ignored her.
"Don't be stupid, this doesn't concern you."
"I'm not going anywhere." She stated, trying to mimic his calmness.
"Fine…" he reached for her arm and started dragging her towards the door. She kneed him in the groin and he slammed her hard into the wall, the whole room echoing with a loud crack as it came in contact with her skull.
Claire was screaming when her mother leapt from her position on the floor and lunged at her husband.
"Ben, stop! She's not - "
He spun around to fight off his wife, giving Alex time to steady herself. She threw her body hard against his and attempted to pry his hands loose, getting elbowed several times in the process. Her head was still spinning. Someone was thrown to the floor and a loud snap reverberated around the room. Everyone froze. Alex ignored her bleeding lip, and bruised face. Claire was clinging onto the wall for dear life, tears streaming down her face, and Ben was panting heavily in the center of the room.
"Oh my god…" Alex stared at her father in disbelief and ran to her mom's side. She almost threw up when she noticed the odd angle her head was twisted at. She didn't move. Alex hurriedly felt for a pulse. Nothing.
"She's dead…" she croaked. Claire fell to her knees, hand covering her mouth and Alex started shaking violently.
"You killed her…" the anger bubbled inside her and she launched herself across the room, fists swinging.
"You killed her!" she screamed as she pounded ineffectually against his chest. Ben grabbed her by the shoulders and held her at arm's length.
"It was an accident Aly, you saw. She came at me - "
She spit in his face and continued to throw everything she had at him. He maintained his hold on her.
"Aly! Please stop!" Claire begged quietly. "Please don't…" she broke down in tears and Alex stopped her pointless attack. Her father released her and shoved her across the room towards her sister.
Claire immediately threw her arms around Alex and sobbed quietly into her chest as they crumpled together in a ball on the floor. Alex muffled her own tears in her free hand.
"Who are you calling?" she managed a few minutes later when her dad reached for the phone. She was scared for the answer but she asked it anyway.
"A friend…" he began distractedly.
"Not the police I'm assuming…"
"Shut the fuck up and let me think!"
Claire had only just calmed down from hysterical to quietly crying and Alex said nothing else. She just stared in horror at her mother's lifeless body on the floor, pooling in blood.
ONE WEEK LATER
"What do you guys want for dinner?" Bill asked gently as they stepped into the house.
"Whatever you feel like." Claire said quietly, her eyes puffy and red from exhaustion. Her head was lowered to the ground and she placed her purse gently on the hall table and removed her jacket.
"Alex?"
Alex ignored him; forgetting to take off her shoes as she wandered into the kitchen.
"Aly, do you want some dinner?" Claire began gently.
Again, Alex said nothing. She pulled some water out of the fridge and took a long drink.
"Sweetie…" Bill began carefully. "You have to eat something."
She put the cap back on the bottle and headed for the stairs.
"I'm not hungry."
Claire's eyes welled with fresh tears as she watched her sister go.
"Uncle Bill, she's barely eaten since…"
"I know, honey. She just needs some space."
At that Claire collapsed in tears and her uncle pulled her into his arms, his own eyes stinging as she buried her head in his chest.
"He didn't even come…" she sobbed. "To Mom's funeral…his wife…he didn't even come…I thought he would."
Bill just sighed and rubbed her back soothingly.
"Do you know where he is?" Claire stuttered after a few minutes.
"No, Claire. I don't know where he went. But listen…" he held her hands gently. "Your parents didn't have a will and since your grandparents are getting older…' he stroked her hair gently off her face. "They want to give me custody."
Claire's eyes widened. "Really?"
He nodded. "What do you think?"
She started to cry again as she stood on tip toe and kissed his cheek, her arms tightening around his neck.
"Alex…" He knocked gently. The music was blaring loudly on her speakers and she did not respond.
"Aly…" he tried again, louder. Still no answer.
"Al – "
"Go away!" came her stifled retort. She sounded choked up.
"Honey I need to talk to you - "
"I said not now!" she snapped. "I'll come down later."
Bill ran his hands exhaustively through his hair.
"Alright…we'll save you some dinner…"
Age 19
"Hey Joel." Alex smiled at the older security guard as she pulled her car up to the gate.
"Alex!" he smiled brightly when he saw her. "How are you, sweetie? Home for the summer?"
"Yeah…" she rolled her eyes a little. "They really try and annihilate you first year. I'm lucky I made it through finals."
"What's your major?"
"Chemistry." She laughed a little. "I dunno what the hell I was thinking."
"I'm sure you did fine." He assured her easily. "I guess you're relieved your uncle's back in LA then…"
She nodded. "But I already told him I was not getting stuck in Seattle…Claire's at boarding school here so we kept the house."
"Have you met anyone in the office yet?"
She shook her head. "Claire did, but very briefly. I was actually hoping to catch him before he left for that meeting this afternoon."
"Ahhh I'm sorry, honey. He left an hour ago."
"Damn it." She groaned. "I'm trying to get him to give me a job for the summer."
"Y'know most kids work at McDonald's or the mall or…"
"Yeah, well I'm not most kids." She grinned. "Do you know when he's coming back?"
"No idea. I can try and find out for you though…"
"You're the best."
She heard him speaking on the phone to someone briefly. He was transferred once, looked slightly agitated, and then hung up the phone. He returned to Alex.
"Alright, he's supposed to be back within the hour. They're sending someone from security down and you can wait inside."
"I owe you one, Joel."
He smiled sympathetically and unlocked the gate so she could park her car. "Security will meet you at the entrance."
A middle-aged man in a white, short sleeved shirt and black slacks met her at the entrance. She didn't recognize him.
"Ms. Evans?" she nodded and he handed her a Visitor badge. "Ms. Dessler's expecting you." He explained as they proceeded in doors.
She had no idea who the hell he was talking about but didn't ask. He didn't seem in the mood to talk and she'd find out soon enough.
"Mr. Buchanan's office is just a few doors down." He indicated to the back corner to a door that was practically hidden from view as they stepped off the elevator.
"Can I just wait in there until he gets back?" she tried, taking advantage of the conversation.
"I'm sorry." The guard shook his head. "You can't be in here unless you're supervised. Ms. Dessler's agreed to sign you in so you can wait until he arrives. She's dealing with something in IT at the moment, but should be here momentarily."
He pushed open the door of an office off the main corridor that was significantly bigger than all the others. They passed a bunch of people sitting at computers in the center of an open room on their way towards it. They looked busy, but she garnered more than a few curious looks.
"Have a seat." He indicated to one of the chairs opposite the desk.
"Do you need anything?"
"No thanks." She responded politely.
"I'll just wait outside then."
A woman with her dark hair plastered back from her face turned the corner a few minutes later. She had files in her hand and walked purposefully down the corridor. One man rose from his computer and hurried to keep up with her, offering her another document. She grabbed it from him, glanced briefly, and scribbled something on the paper before returning it to him. Alex noticed her navy suit was perfectly pressed as she got closer. Despite the eruption of commotion from some of the others on the computers, the woman didn't look the least bit frazzled. Alex wiped her sweaty palms on the thighs of her jeans that could do with a good wash and tried to smooth the wrinkles out of her t-shirt; preparing for the introduction. She felt out of place now; like a child. She should've changed before she came. Alex watched as the woman nodded curtly as the guard pulled the door open for her. Alex's stomach churned.
She rose as the woman stepped across the room towards her.
"Hi…Alex?" the woman asked as they came face to face. Alex nodded briefly.
The woman smiled politely. "I'm Michelle Dessler."